Conference to streamline Lord Balaji darshan

Tirupati, Oct 1 (INN): The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams will organize a national conference in November first week seeking suggestions for providing better amenities to devotees and pilgrims at the hill shrine. TTD Executive Officer I Y R Krishna Rao told media persons that the national conference would discuss modalities for streamlining the facilities for darshan for pilgrims and for providing better amenities in Tirumala hills. He said the conference would focus on providing accommodation, amenities and hassle-free darshan of Lord Venkateshwara in view of mounting complaints by devotees of the lack of proper amenities, especially during festivals.

The conference will be aimed at finding effective and permanent methods of providing hassle-free darshan for devotees at the hill shrine, Mr Krishna Rao pointed out. He said the Devasthanam has made it mandatory for devotees desirous of taking part in thomala, archana and kalyanotsavam rituals performed in the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala to observe the traditional dress code.

The EO asked the devotees to strictly follow the dress code. The TTD has had taken up an awareness campaign for four months before implementing the dress code. Mr Krishna Rao said only male devotees wearing dhoti and kanduva (upper cloth) and female devotees wearing sari-blouse or churidars would be permitted to take part in the rituals. In a significant development, he stated that the TTD would reconsider its decision on issuing of Sudarshan token darshan. Earlier, the TTD management dispensed with the system of issuing Sudarshan' tokens at Tirupati, due to some constraints.